Coronavirus Watch: Vaccine makers optimistic about July timeline

Five of the world's COVID-19 vaccine makers expressed optimism Tuesday that the U.S. will have sufficient supply to vaccinate every American who wants it by the end of July, reinforcing a timeline that the Biden administration offered last week.

Representatives of Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca, and Novavax also told a House oversight committee they are working on alterations to the vaccines to combat variant strains if necessary.

It's Tuesday, and this is the Coronavirus Watch from the Paste BN Network. Here's more news you need to know:

• President Joe Biden urged Americans to wear masks and take other steps to prevent spread of the virus at a somber White House ceremony honoring the 500,000 American lives lost to COVID-19. Biden pointed out the death toll from the pandemic is higher than the number of U.S. service members killed in battle during World War I, World War II and the Vietnam War combined.
• Health officials in Texas were optimistic that vaccine distribution would get back on track by the end of the week. Last week's power crisis prompted shipping delays, canceled appointments and destroyed more than 900 doses across the state. 
• Johnson & Johnson says it will be able to provide 20 million doses of its single-shot vaccine by the end of March, assuming it gets the green light from federal regulators.
• California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday plans to sign a coronavirus relief package that will include $600 one-time payments for 5.7 million people with low-to-moderate incomes.
• States will need to administer annual standardized exams to students in 2021, but they can modify or delay the tests, the U.S. Department of Education said Monday.

Today's numbers: The U.S. has reported more than 28 million COVID-19 cases and 501,000 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Worldwide, there have been more than 111 million cases and more than 2.4 million deaths. More than 12.4% of people in the U.S. have received at least one vaccine shot, and about 4.9% of people have received both doses, according to the CDC.

See the numbers in your area here, check out where cases are rising here, and see how many vaccines your state has received here.

Are you on Clubhouse? If so, tune in to our live discussion on COVID-19 here 7 p.m. ET Thursday.

– Grace Hauck, Paste BN breaking news reporter, @grace_hauck